Baba Ganouj

Baba Ganouj brings modern Lebanese cooking to Little Stanley Street in South Bank, Brisbane, while keeping traditional methods at the centre of the experience. The restaurant’s saj is prepared to order on a dome-shaped hotplate rather than baked in an oven, with toppings added as the bread cooks. It is a distinctive part of the offering and gives the menu a clear focus on freshly made Lebanese bread alongside dips, mezza, grilled dishes and shared plates.

The menu covers a broad range of Lebanese flavours. Starters include hommos, smoky roasted eggplant baba ganouj, labneh bil toum, toum, mixed pickles and zaatar saj, while the mezza selection includes vine leaves, batata harra, falafel, kibbie and fatayer. For a more substantial meal, diners can choose from skewers, shawarma plates, grilled chicken, slow-cooked lamb ouzeh, moudardara or a vegan plate. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and gluten-free-option dishes are identified on the menu, although the restaurant notes that its kitchen cannot cater to anaphylactic allergies because of potential traces.

The venue is in the heart of South Bank, just steps from the South Bank Parklands, making it suitable for a meal before or after exploring the precinct. Its interiors are described as stylish, with a warm and welcoming approach from the team. The restaurant also has private rooms and flexible layouts for seated dining or cocktail-style functions, with spaces intended for birthdays, corporate events, engagement parties, hens nights, intimate weddings and family celebrations. Food and beverage packages, styling and entertainment can be discussed with the events team.

Baba Ganouj is family owned and operated and has been established since 2015. The restaurant says its dishes, including the saj bread, are prepared from scratch, with a menu that also includes Lebanese beverages and sweets. It can suit groups looking to share a spread of dips and mezza, families marking a special occasion, or diners wanting a full Lebanese meal in South Bank. The menu and function offering make it a flexible choice, whether the plan is a casual lunch or dinner or a private event.